"Korea" epaulette slip

[Brigade Piron]

Sorry, just a few brief question:

What were these for, how many variations exist and who used them?

Also, what's the rough going rate for one?

Here's a few examples:




EDIT: Sorry, just realised quite how crap that second picture is. Apologies anyway.

BP

[Bill A]

The Korea tabs are for a veterans' organization.

[Brigade Piron]

Are you sure? I've seen pictures of these on the epaulettes of Ike Jackets from 1952-3 - surely that would be a bit early for a veterens' organisation?

[Bill A]

From my research, they are for a veterans' organization. Were the slip ons on a dated jacket? Or were they in a period pic?

[Brigade Piron]

It was a dated '52 picture of a soldier from Luxembourg, and on Ikes I've seen in museums. I've heard something about them being used as ID during Rest and Relaxation in Japan..?

[engr9266]

I saw a pair of these at Aldershot Militaria fair on Sunday. They belonged to Chris TOFT, one of the dealers there. When I asked him what they were, he told me that they were worn by "squad leaders" Unforunetly I did not go into this any further. If you know Chris ask him. They were in his personal UN collection of cloth badges.

[Bill A]

The pair I had came from the estate of a USAF armaments tech. He served as an armourer in a USAF squadron in Korea.

[marc b]

Used by belgian troops when on leave (Japan...)
There are some variations, don't now how many.
Anyway, a nice pair!!
Cheers,
Marc

[Bill A]

Found an image of the titles / slip-ons. Quality isn't the best, but they are very similar to the ones illustrated by BP.

[Brigade Piron]

I could believe that, but I don't think they're just the Belgians, the US troops used them too.

As a matter of curiosity, what are the other badges Bill?

BP

[Bill A]

Hi BP, The top title is a bullion wire KOREA shoulder arc. The next are the vet's name tags. These were supposedly badges for a veterans group.

[Brigade Piron]

A BIT MORE RESEARCH AND THE ANSWER IS:

Tous les personnels des Nations Unis assignés en Corée et qui sont temporairement de passage au Japon sont autorisés à porter des passants d'épaule "Korea" bleu :


(Home made "Blue" temporary Japan version)

- Le port de ces passant est optionel si le soldat porte déja les passants vert "Combat leader" ou les passant vert "Korea" des personnels militaire travaillant au Japon pour la Corée.

- Ces passants ne sont portés que sur le territoire Japonais.
- On se procure ces passants auprés des Post exchanges.

Il existe de nombreuses variantes de fabrication de ces passants d'épaules, il est fort probable que les exemplaires furent tous fabriqués sur place au Japon.


(Version for personnel actually working in Japan)

So for you non-French speakers - "All the UN personnel assigned to Korea and who were temporarily in Japan in transit were authorised to wear blue Korea epaulette 'slips'

The wearing of these slips was optional if the soldier wore the green "Combat Leader" or Green Korea slips (ie. working in Japan for Korea) already.

These were only worn in Japan and could only be obtained from Post Exchanges.

Several variants exist and it is probable that most were made in Japan."

Here is my personal one - it is the official version:


Almost right BP